The Vijay Textiles Golconda Derby Stakes (Grade I), to be run on Sunday 31st of January 2010, has attracted sixteen starters. Horses from Bangalore, Mumbai and Kolkata along with the local challenge, shall focus on the total stakes of over 8.5 Million Rupees that’s in offer. This being the richest Derby so far at Hyderabad, the winner shall walk away with over five million. Picking a winner for this mile and a half trip is not going to be an easy task, as most of them are proven winners over a similar trip.

Systhematic, the winner of the Bangalore Oaks, gave the Poonawalla Derby a miss to be fresh for this one. Sans Pareil, who is in rousing form, is here after her success at the Calcutta Oaks. Fair Option ran second in the Calcutta Derby. Saint Vincent has been systematically prepared for this race. Incredible was much fancied in the Golconda Oaks by her connections but was eventually withdrawn in the last minute. The ‘Sparks’ team have a different game plan for this race, after their victory in the Monsoon Derby. The dark-uns like Arabian Prince, Fleet Indian, Hussler and Davenport are likely to add pep to the race.

Trainer S. Padmanabhan is also optimistic about Classerville’s performance in the Derby. Apart from the Indian riding sensations, like Suraj Narredu and Y.S. Srinath, seven top- flight foreign jockeys shall be donning the silks. The 16 runners for the pinnacle of the racing calendar will come under the starter’s orders at 4.45 pm, the eighth race of the day. Going by the present form of the runners, one can expect Systematic at the all important end with Incredible and the local challenge, Sparks.